More than 300 people attended a public meeting to launch a campaign to save Cork’s Kino Cinema, the only independent cinema outside of Dublin, which recently announced it was being forced to close on Sunday, 29th November as a result of High Court proceedings by creditors seeking repayment of a debt owed for design work. Established in 1996, the Kino has been Cork’s only dedicated arthouse cinema.

Kino owner Mick Hannigan confirmed that a special steering committee has been formed following the public meeting to both raise funds to pay off a debt of about €60,000 and to develop a business plan to put the 188-seat cinema on a sound financial footing. Those in attendance included the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune, Labour TDs Kathleen Lynch and Ciarán Lynch, and Senator Dan Boyle.